Official Site® | Ledger.com/Start® – Getting Started

Securing digital assets has moved from a luxury to a necessity. As hackers grow more sophisticated and centralized exchanges continue to face breaches, self‑custody has become the gold standard for anyone serious about cryptocurrency. Ledger®, a pioneer in hardware‑wallet technology, offers an elegant way to take control of your private keys. If you have just unboxed a Ledger Nano S Plus®, Ledger Nano X®, or a future model, the journey officially begins with the onboarding flow commonly referred to as “Ledger.com/Start®.” The steps below walk you through everything—from first power‑on to sending your inaugural transaction—so you can protect your holdings with confidence.

1. Unbox and Inspect Your Device

Ledger’s packaging is intentionally minimal, but every component matters. Inside you should find the hardware wallet, a USB‑C cable, three blank recovery sheets, a quick‑start card, and a few Ledger® stickers. Pause before powering on:

  • Check the seal – it should be intact and professionally applied.
  • Look for tampering – markings, scratches, or a prewritten seed phrase are immediate red flags.
  • Confirm accessories – genuine devices always ship with recovery cards and a new cable.

If anything seems off, stop immediately and contact Ledger® support. Using a compromised wallet could expose your funds.

2. Power On and Select “Set Up as New Device”

Connect the device to your computer with the supplied cable. After the Ledger® logo appears, you’ll see a prompt to create a new wallet. Using the two buttons on the top of the device, scroll and press both simultaneously to confirm choices. Next, you’ll be asked to:

  1. Choose a PIN code between four and eight digits.
  2. Confirm the PIN by re‑entering it.

Select a sequence that is hard to guess but easy to remember; you will enter it whenever the device powers up. Avoid obvious patterns such as 0000, 1234, or repeating digits.

3. Write Down the 24‑Word Recovery Phrase

The Ledger® will now generate a unique 24‑word recovery phrase, often called the seed phrase. This is the single most important element of wallet ownership, as it can restore access to funds on any compatible hardware or software wallet. Follow these guidelines:

  • Write each word in exact order on the provided recovery sheet.
  • Double‑check spelling before pressing the button to advance.
  • Store the sheet offline in a fireproof, waterproof location.
  • Never digitize or photograph the phrase—digital copies are prime hacking targets.
  • Do not share the phrase with family, friends, or even Ledger® staff; anyone who has it controls your assets.

After you confirm that every word is recorded, the device will test you by asking for a handful of random words from the sequence. This final check guards against transcription errors.

4. Install Ledger Live®

Ledger Live® is the companion application that bridges your hardware wallet with the blockchain. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, it provides a secure dashboard to manage accounts, view balances, and sign transactions. Once installed:

  1. Open the app and select “Get Started.”
  2. Choose your device model and click “Connect.”
  3. Run the genuine‑check process to verify the device’s authenticity.
  4. Opt in or out of analytics; opting out does not affect functionality.

When Ledger Live® confirms that your firmware is current, you’re ready to add cryptocurrency accounts.

5. Add and Manage Accounts

Every supported asset—Bitcoin®, Ethereum®, Solana®, and thousands of others—requires a small “app” on the Ledger®. In Ledger Live®:

  1. Navigate to “My Ledger.”
  2. Authorize the connection on the device screen.
  3. Install the desired app (e.g., Bitcoin) by clicking the download icon.
  4. Return to the main menu, choose “Accounts,” and click “Add Account.”

The wallet will derive an address that only you control. From here you can:

  • Receive funds – generate a fresh address and confirm it matches the one displayed on the Ledger® screen.
  • Send funds – paste the destination address, select the network fee, and physically approve the transaction on the device.
  • Stake or lend certain assets via integrated Ledger Live® features or partner services, while keys remain safely offline.

6. Best‑Practice Security Habits

A hardware wallet is only as strong as the habits of its owner. Keep these principles front and center:

  • Update firmware whenever Ledger® releases a security patch.
  • Verify all addresses on the device screen, never just in software.
  • Enable a passphrase (an optional 25th word) if you need an additional secret layer.
  • Use only official download sources for Ledger Live®; counterfeit apps can drain wallets.
  • Disconnect from shared or public computers once you finish tasks.
  • Maintain multiple backups of the recovery phrase in geographically separate locations.

7. Recovering Funds on a New Device

Should your Ledger® be lost, stolen, or damaged, you can regain full access:

  1. Purchase a new Ledger® or any BIP‑39‑compatible hardware wallet.
  2. Select “Restore from Recovery Phrase” during setup.
  3. Enter the 24 words in precise order.
  4. Assign a new PIN, and your balances will reappear in Ledger Live®.

Without the recovery phrase, however, funds are permanently inaccessible—highlighting why safeguarding those 24 words is non‑negotiable.

Conclusion: Your Personal Crypto Vault

By following the Ledger.com/Start® onboarding sequence—unboxing, PIN creation, recovery‑phrase protection, Ledger Live® installation, and disciplined security practices—you transform a sleek piece of hardware into a personal vault capable of safeguarding life‑changing sums. Ledger® blends convenience with robust, tamper‑resistant architecture, empowering you to participate in the decentralized economy without surrendering control to third parties. Embrace the responsibility, master the steps, and venture into the crypto frontier knowing your assets rest behind one of the most trusted shields in the industry.